urinating less

[Lyn W]

Lola my leopard has always produced quite a lot of wee, I always have puddles to mop up from the rubber floor of his room, when I get home but there has been nothing since Thurs. I thought he may be using his trays of substrate but they don't seem to be moister than usual, neither is the moss in his hide. I covered his trays today to check that he is weeing but there has been nothing on the rubber matting.
On Thurs the urates in the puddle were soft and creamy, his urine is clear and he is quite active, eating well and the food is well hydrated. He is also still having his daily warm soaks. Nothing has changed really.
I am worried this could be some sort of kidney infection or blockage, if there is no wee tomorrow we are off to the vets to check but I don't want to give him meds if not necessary. Does anyone have any other theories about this please?

 

[Lyn W]

.............he could be weeing in his water I suppose but I don't think he does usually.

 

[Anyfoot]

.............he could be weeing in his water I suppose but I don't think he does usually.

Has he slowed down with eating too?
Did you get the weather drop in temp down there like we did up north. We've had a very unusually mild November, last Wednesday was our 1st frost. Had snow Fri night. Could your floor be colder than usual? Is she slowing down in general?
I was still collecting weeds this weekend, I have a feeling that was the last time for a while.

 

[Lyn W]

Has he slowed down with eating too?
Did you get the weather drop in temp down there like we did up north. We've had a very unusually mild November, last Wednesday was our 1st frost. Had snow Fri night. Could your floor be colder than usual? Is she slowing down in general?
I was still collecting weeds this weekend, I have a feeling that was the last time for a while.

Hi Craig yes the temps have drastically dropped here. On Friday when I got home I don't think he had been out of his hide all day - none of his food scattered around the room had been touched which is really unusual. The lowest floor temp area in his room is about 68' but the area he mainly uses is between about 80' - 93' F (the heating pipes run quite close to he surface). Under his lamp it is about 103'. He has eaten very well over the weekend and been quite active. It could just be an adjustment to the temps but didn't affect him last year and everything is pretty much the same - if not better in there for him this year with the thick rubber mats. That's why I'm worried - this is different. He did poop yesterday.

 

[Anyfoot]

Hi Craig yes the temps have drastically dropped here. On Friday when I got home I don't think he had been out of his hide all day - none of his food scattered around the room had been touched which is really unusual. The lowest floor temp area in his room is about 68' but the area he mainly uses is between about 80' - 93' F (the heating pipes run quite close to he surface). Under his lamp it is about 103'. He has eaten very well over the weekend and been quite active. It could just be an adjustment to the temps but didn't affect him last year and everything is pretty much the same - if not better in there for him this year with the thick rubber mats. That's why I'm worried - this is different. He did poop yesterday.

I'll bet he's adjusting. Up until last Tuesday we were getting temps to 16deg. At night it didn't drop below 13deg. From Wed onwards it has plummeted, I've got ice outside. -3deg tonight.
What I'm saying is the winter usually comes on us gradually, this year it has happened literally over 2 days up north.
Keep an eye on him. I wouldn't panic yet.
Keep us in loop Lyn. Good luck.

 

[Lyn W]

I'll bet he's adjusting. Up until last Tuesday we were getting temps to 16deg. At night it didn't drop below 13deg. From Wed onwards it has plummeted, I've got ice outside. -3deg tonight.
What I'm saying is the winter usually comes on us gradually, this year it has happened literally over 2 days up north.
Keep an eye on him. I wouldn't panic yet.
Keep us in loop Lyn. Good luck.

Thanks Craig - I did panic on Friday when I saw his food untouched. I checked he was awake when I left for work but usually his plates dotted around the room are cleared by the time I get home, I was expecting the worst when I lifted his hide. I soaked him and he ate well before taking himself back off for the night, but the fact fluid is going in but not coming out has me concerned.
I've searched and read that they can hang on their urine to keep hydrated in times of drought etc so maybe they do the same in the cold in case they don't get out and about to find more I don't know. I'll see what tomorrow brings.
Keep warm up there!!

 

[Anyfoot]

Thanks Craig - I did panic on Friday when I saw his food untouched. I checked he was awake when I left for work but usually his plates dotted around the room are cleared by the time I get home, I was expecting the worst when I lifted his hide. I soaked him and he ate well before taking himself back off for the night, but the fact fluid is going in but not coming out has me concerned.
I've searched and read that they can hang on their urine to keep hydrated in times of drought etc so maybe they do the same in the cold in case they don't get out and about to find more I don't know. I'll see what tomorrow brings.
Keep warm up there!!

That was my point. If your tort instinctively thinks bad times are on the horizon with getting cold he will hold on to his urine to recycle it within. The fact you had to get him out to feed also could mean he's adjusting.
Just keep an eye on him. My adult reds have not eaten as much as usual in the last 2 days. I also have hot water pipes and central heating pipes running under the tort room, but is this enough, I don't know.

 

[Lyn W]

That was my point. If your tort instinctively thinks bad times are on the horizon with getting cold he will hold on to his urine to recycle it within. The fact you had to get him out to feed also could mean he's adjusting.
Just keep an eye on him. My adult reds have not eaten as much as usual in the last 2 days. I also have hot water pipes and central heating pipes running under the tort room, but is this enough, I don't know.

There is a radiator on 24/7 just behind his hide plus I've kept his che on as well as the mvb since Friday. I think I will get another oil filled rad tomorrow though - just in case! Cheers Craig.

 

[Anyfoot]

There is a radiator on 24/7 just behind his hide plus I've kept his che on as well as the mvb since Friday. I think I will get another oil filled rad tomorrow though - just in case! Cheers Craig.

I don't know what your situation regarding your indoor set up. I'm guessing this room is your long-term cure to our winters. Have you considered using some floor heating. I don't mean warm the entire room. Could you put some sort of heat under the sleeping quarters, pig planket heaters maybe. Just a thought. You just need to make sure somewhere in the room is comfortable for him. Then he will come and go from comfort as he pleases.
http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/361434422597

 

[Lyn W]

I don't know what your situation regarding your indoor set up. I'm guessing this room is your long-term cure to our winters. Have you considered using some floor heating. I don't mean warm the entire room. Could you put some sort of heat under the sleeping quarters, pig planket heaters maybe. Just a thought. You just need to make sure somewhere in the room is comfortable for him. Then he will come and go from comfort as he pleases.
http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/361434422597

This is his room all year round. It is quite cosy in there and especially warm at floor level in his favourite spot on the warm pipes, always checking with my temp gun, but yes I have been looking at those, in fact I found out last week that where my nephew lives in Horncastle in Lincs, there is a place that stocks the Kane pig mats that many of the US members use, they have additional safety features I believe, so was going to see if they will get me one and bring it down to my sister in Leics where I can collect it. I will have look at that link though and see if that is quicker. Thanks again.

 

[Jodie]

My Leopards all will go through periods of being off food n less active. Usually last 3-5 days. It freaks me out every time, but nothing I do makes a difference. Eventually they just snap out of it. I would watch him for a bit. Plenty of soaks and see if he doesn't get back to normal shortly.

 

[Lyn W]

My Leopards all will go through periods of being off food n less active. Usually last 3-5 days. It freaks me out every time, but nothing I do makes a difference. Eventually they just snap out of it. I would watch him for a bit. Plenty of soaks and see if he doesn't get back to normal shortly.

Thanks Jodie - it was the lack of wee that's had me worried but just talking to Craig and it seems it could just be a reaction to our sudden drop in temps here. Hopefully nothing more.

 

[Anyfoot]

Thanks Jodie - it was the lack of wee that's had me worried but just talking to Craig and it seems it could just be a reaction to our sudden drop in temps here. Hopefully nothing more.

Lyn. I agree with Jodie, I wouldnt go out and spend loads if money on extra heat sources when it could just be an adjustment period, see what happens over the next wk.
I only suggested the pig blanket because if you already have a radiator, adding an oil rad won't make any difference if the cooler temps are coming through the floor. Like you said, it's toasty in that room. See what happens over the next 4/5 days or so. Then make a decision.

 

[Lyn W]

Was thinking of the Pig Blanket before this
but will wait and see.
Ta much!

 

[Lyn W]

Still no wee - that's 4 dry or at least drier days now I think - I know it could be the sudden drop in temps outside but his are the same indoors so should I see vet asap now?

 

[Jodie]

Is he eating and active?

 

[Lyn W]

Is he eating and active?

Yes, especially after a warm soak.

 

[Jodie]

if it makes you feel better, you get get an X-Ray to make sure there is no blockage. I would wait n see a bit. As long as he is eating you have plenty of time in my experience.

 

[Lyn W]

if it makes you feel better, you get get an X-Ray to make sure there is no blockage. I would wait n see a bit. As long as he is eating you have plenty of time in my experience.

Good news Lola has wee'd! A couple of good puddles to mop up and I've never been so relieved to see urine in my life!!!
All nice and clear too. So panic over, but thanks very much @Jodie and Craig, @Anyfoot ,for your responses and advice.

 

[Anyfoot]

Good news Lola has wee'd! A couple of good puddles to mop up and I've never been so relieved to see urine in my life!!!
All nice and clear too. So panic over, but thanks very much @Jodie and Craig, @Anyfoot ,for your responses and advice.

That's good news Lyn.